Sarah Elaine Ford

The Lawyer

Sarah Elaine Ford is an associate attorney at Kinshield Law, where she focuses her practice on family law, child welfare, child custody, and related litigation. Her work includes representing parents and family members involved in Child Protective Services and Children and Youth Services investigations, custody disputes, emergency family matters, and proceedings where child-welfare concerns intersect with broader family-law issues. Sarah was drawn to this area of practice because family-law matters are rarely simply legal disputes. For a parent involved with a child-welfare agency, the matter may involve questions about the safety and well-being of their children, the stability of their home, their relationship with their family, and their future. For a parent involved in a custody dispute, a court proceeding may affect the most important relationship in their life. Sarah approaches these matters with that perspective in mind. She takes time to understand the circumstances surrounding a case, identify the issues that require immediate attention, and work with clients to develop a thoughtful legal strategy alongside the firm's broader legal team. Her practice emphasizes preparation and communication. Sarah believes clients should understand what is happening, what the next stage of the process may involve, and what decisions they may need to make. At Kinshield Law, Sarah works alongside the firm's partners and other attorneys on matters that require a coordinated approach across family law, child welfare, and litigation. She is particularly interested in cases where several areas of law intersect and where careful preparation at the beginning of a matter can have significant implications later. A legal matter is personal before it is procedural. Sarah understands that clients often arrive at a law firm after something important in their lives has already become uncertain, and her approach is to slow the situation down, understand the facts, identify what needs attention first, and help clients move forward with a clear understanding of the legal process.

The Practice

• •Child Protective Services / Children and Youth Services Representation
• •Family Law
• •Child Custody
• •Civil Litigation

The Approach

People deserve to feel heard before they are expected to make difficult decisions.

“Sarah believes that good representation begins with understanding the client's circumstances, concerns, and priorities. Her role is to help clients navigate the legal process with preparation, clarity, and thoughtful advocacy.”Sarah Elaine Ford

Experience

• •Associate Attorney, Kinshield Law, 2019-Present
• •Associate Attorney, Ford & Associates, 2016-2019
• •Staff Attorney, Family Advocacy Practice, 2014-2016
• •Judicial Law Clerk, State Trial Court, 2013-2014

Professional Memberships

• •Illinois State Bar Association
• •American Bar Association
• •Family Law Section
• •Child and Family Law Section
• •Women's Bar Association
• •Local Bar Association

Publications

• •“What Parents Should Know Before a CPS Investigation Begins”
• •“When Child Welfare and Custody Proceedings Overlap”
• •“Preparing for an Emergency Custody Hearing”
• •“Questions to Consider Before Your First Family-Law Consultation”
• •“Understanding the First Steps in a Child Welfare Case”

Selected Matters